Nicholtown is a densely populated suburban residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Greenville, SC. The residents of Nicholtown primarily live in small rental homes or apartment complexes which both lack outdoor and recreational space.
There also are not any existing large recreational parks within the vicinity of Nicholtown. When questioned, what do the residents of Nicholtown need? The answer is a recreational park.
The park is a circuitous half mile loop for people to use as a walking path. The program also includes a large open green space for sports events, fairs or markets, an amphitheater for community gatherings, and a playground.
Because of the scale of the project, grading and drainage were very important factors in the park design. Besides a path for people, there is also a path for water which channels water through drains, creeks, and rills to drain into the Reedy River. There are many locations along the path where people interact with water either visually or physically.
There is also a built language among the park furniture which includes lamps, pavilions, fire pits, and benches. The furniture shares similar joinery language, materials, and relationship to ground.
The project assignment was what do residents of Nicholtown need?
Nicholtown needs a place where they can gather as a community outside. Welcome to Nicholtown’s backyard.
2014
Clemson University
Co-Designer: Clair Dias